In
1970, the first joint replacement in the Philadelphia area was
performed at Pennsylvania Hospital. The typical joint replacement
patient in the early days of the procedure was a frail woman
in her mid-sixties who could be expected to spend three weeks
in the hospital recuperating. Because patients were able to return
to a normal, active lifestyle, they often outlived the ten-year
lifespan of the replacement devices, prompting them to return
for another surgery and implant.

Now, over 2,000 joint replacements are done at Pennsylvania
Hospital every year, more than at any other hospital in North
America. Patients are anywhere from 40 to 90 years old and usually
leave the hospital within a week. The success rate for the prostheses
is 99%, and the replacement devices now stand the test of time,
wear and tear.